If you are an F-1 international student and have a job offer from one of the recognized international organizations.
to work in the U.S. before the completion of your academic program, you can apply to USCIS for off-campus work authorization without using your OPT time.
General Guidelines
- You must be present in the U.S. in F-1 status (there is no 9-month waiting period, like for other off-campus work authorizations);
- You have a job offer from one of the internationally recognized organizations linked above
- The job will occur in the U.S. (this is a U.S. work authorization only)
- The work occurs before your I-20 end date
- You must otherwise maintain F-1 status (e.g. be full time enrolled for at least three courses each quarter)
- Employment does not have to be related to your current course of study;
- An official job offer letter on the organization's letterhead is required;
- You must apply to OIA for recommendation and to USCIS for authorization;
- An Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) from USCIS is required before beginning work (usually takes 3-4 months for processing);
- Authorization is granted by USCIS for the specific dates listed in the job offer letter, but is granted in increments of no more than one year;
- You can be authorized by USCIS for full-time employment; and
- Important note: This employment will not take away from your OPT or CPT authorization time limits.